Non-refillable bottle.



PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

W. BROWNE. NON-REFILLABLB BOTTLE. APPLICATION FILED NOV.16,1906.

noentot Wit use:

0.. rum-cramp:

WILLIAM KURTZ BROWNE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed November 16.1906. Serial No. 343.694.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM KUR'IZ BROWNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Non Refillable Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention embodies improvements in that type of bottles, or like receptacles, which are especialy designed to obviate likelihood of deception and fraud upon the public, by the refilling of the receptacle with contents of a grade inferior to those originally vended therein.

The invention comprises an essential and peculiar construction of the body of the bottle or receptacle, the same including means whereby the bottle is filled from the bottom thereof, and valve means of a peculiar nature arranged within the neck of the bottle and adapted to thwart or prevent an attempt to refill the receptacle after the original contents thereof have beenonce withdrawn.

The invention resides in other details of construc tion, the form and operation of which will appear more fully by reference to the accompanying description and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a bottle substantially embodying the essential features of the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view bringing out the formation of the bottom or lower portion of the body of the bottle, whereat the latter is closed after being filled; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the valve mechanism and the supporting member therefor, on the line lll ll of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view of the device for screwing the valve plug in position; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view bringing out more clearly the manner of forming the seal at the bottom closure.

In the accompanying description and drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts.

Specifically describing the invention, the numeral 1 designates the body of the bottle which is of the usual conformation, the numeral 2 indicating the neck portion thereof. The neck 2 of the receptacle is different from those commonly in use in that it is tapered toward its upper extremity and provided with a comparatively small outlet opening 3. The opening 3 is sufficiently large to permit the contents of the bottle to escape freely in withdrawal thereof, but is too small to permit of any large amount of liquid being introduced into the neck therethrough. The lower end, or bottom portion of the body 1 of the bottle is peculiarly formedv As before premised, the bottle is of that type in which the receptacle is filled from the bottom and therefore the bottom 4 of the bottle is preferably formed separately therefrom and virtually constitutes a bottom closure. The bottom or bottom closure 4 of the bottle is peculiarly formed, it being necessary in carrying out the invention that the glass from which the bottle is made shall be heated at the lowei' extremity of the receptacle to permit of attaching the bottom or bottom closure 4 in operative position by a fusing seal. In other words, at the lower or bottom end of the bottle 1, the latter is formed with an inwardly projecting annular flange 5 and extending downwardly from the flange 5. and preferably in line with the walls of the body of the bottle, is a second annular flange 6. The flanges 5 and 6 extend from one another at relatively right angles and the flange 6 is formed with a special view to permitting of ready fusing thereof to the bottom closure 4. after the contents of the bottle have been introduced therein and the receptacle is ready to be sealed. The flange 5 is of greater thickness than the flange 6, the intermediate annular portion of the latter being formed very thin, as shown at 6*. The bottom or bottom closure 4 is provided with an annular flange f extending from its edges, said flange 1 being adapted to overlap the flange 5 when the part 4 is in operative position on the bottle.

In the neck 2 is located the valve mechanism by which refilling of the bottle is effectively prevented, or made impracticable. This valve mechanism includes a screw plug or supporting member 7, the exterior portion of which is formed with threads adapted to screw into the neck 2 of the bottle at the threaded portion 8 of the latter. The threaded portion 8 is formed in the process of manufacturing the body of the bottle and the plug or member 7 is preferably of glass adapted to fit snugly in the neck after it has been screwed into position. The plug 7 is formed with central opening 9, through which the contents of the receptacle are adapted to pass when issuing from the opening 3 and normally the opening 9 is closed at its upper end by a ball or similar valve 10. The valve 10 is held seated against the top of the plug 7 and closing the upper end of the opening 9 by means of a ring 11 which is connected by a flexible connection such as a cord or wire 12 to the ball valve 10. The connection 12 passes through the opening 9, and the valve 10 and the ring or Inember 11 are arranged above and below the plug 7, respectively. The ring 11 not only tends to prevent any great degree of movement of the valve 10, but it may be of sufficient weight to normally cause the valve to close the opening 9 at the upper end of the latter. It is preferred that the under or lower side of the plug 9 be formed with recesses 13, adapted to receive the spaced projections of a turning device 15 which will be utilized to screw the plug into the neck 2. Once in position, and the bottom closure 4 sealed and properly applied to the bottom of the bottle 1, it is apparent that it would be impossible to displace the plug 7 without destroying the bottle entirely.

A description of the general operation of closing or sealing the bottle, as well as the operation of Withdrawing the contents thereof, will fully disclose the practical advantages and desirability of the invention.

In bottles of the type of the present invention, it is essential, in effecting the sealing or closing of the bot tle by heat, that such heat shall not be suflicient to contaminate or otherwise affect the contents of the container. The formation of the flanges 5 and 6, as well as the bottom closure 4, are especially intended to admit of accomplishment of the sealing of the bottle without incurring any likelihood of the above mentioned disadvantageous results. The opening 3 of the neck 2 may be sealed by any suitable form of removable seal or closure 14. Previous to filling the bottle 1, the plug or supporting member 7, with its valve and connected parts, will be inserted into or placed in position in the neck 2. The receptacle may be then filled with the goods to be vended therein, after which the bottom or bottom closure 1 is so arranged that the flange P overlaps the flange 5 at the lower extremity of the receptacle. The annular intermediate, or thin portion 6 of the flange 6, is then, under the application of heat, softened until the glass from which it is made is in fusible condition, whereupon the lower or larger portion of the flange 6 is turned inwardly, causing the intermediate portion of the flange to be fused to the edge of the flange 4, thereby establishing an effective seal at the bottom of the bottle. The location of the thin portion 6 of the flange 6 is advantageous in that in the actual operation of closing the bottle, the heat which enables the flange 6 to be fused to the member l, is applied at a point comparatively remote from the interior of the receptacle, and thus entirelyobviating the likelihood that the contents of the latter will be affected in any way detrimental thereto. In other words, the forma tion of the flanges 5, (l and 4, is such that a considerable thickness of material or glass is interposed between the point at which the heat is applied to the flange 6 and the interior of the bottle. Again, the peculiar construction of the flange (l is such that the lower extremity of the flange when turned or folded inwardly, in the sealing operation, will have a sort of wedging action to press or force the bottom 4 tightly against the flange 5, (see Fig. 5) increasing the effectiveness of the seal and decreasing the liability of heating the contents of the receptacle. When the bottle has been closed or sealed in the above described manner, it will be apparent that in order to remove the contents thereof, it is only necessary to detach the seal 14 and invert the re- (:eptacle the usual way. Inversion of the receptacle will cause the valve 10 to open by gravitation and the contents of the bottle will pass freely through the opening 9 and out of the neck 2 through the outlet 3. An attempt to refill the bottle will be frustrated, not only on account of the size of the outlet 3, but by reason of the fact more particularly that the inflow of the liquid would cause the valve 10 to be seated, thereby closing the opening 9, the pressure of the liquid acting only auxiliary to the normal tendency of the valve to close with reference to the opening 9, by reason of gravitation, or the weight of the member 11.

The invention is extremely simple in its organization and is very practical from the standpoint of an article of manufacture, in view of the peculiar formation of the parts hereinbefore described.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a nonrefillable bottle, the combination of a body having the usual neck portion, a closure governing passage of the contents of the bottle out of the neck thereof, the lower end of the bottle being formed with an inwardly extending annular flange, a bottom closure having its edge portion seated against the flange above mentioned, and a sealing flange projecting from the lower extremity of the bottle and fused to the adjacent edge of the bottom closure.

2. In a non-refillable bottle, the combination of a body having the usual neck, valved means controlling the passage of the contents of the bottle through the neck, the lower extremity of the body of the bottle being formed with an inwardly extending flange, a bottom closure having its edge portion overlapping the under or lower side of the above mentioned flange and in contact therewith, and a second integral annular flange extending downwardly from the bottom portion of the bottle and turned inwardly against the under side of the bottom closure, the last mentioned flange being fused to the edge portion of the bottom closure to form a seal.

2 In a non-refillable bottle, the combination of a body having the usual neck portion, valve mechanismcontrolling the passage of the contents of the bottle through the neck, the body of the bottle being open at its lower end, an inwardly extending annular flange projecting from the body of the bottle at the lower extremity thereof, and a bottom closure having an annular edge flange overlapping the above mentioned flange and in contact therewith, the body of the bottle being formed with a downwardly extending annular flange arranged substantially in line with the walls of the bottle and having its intermediate annular portion thin, the intermediate annular portion of the downwardly projecting annular flange last mentioned being fused to the bottom closure at the adjacent edge portion of the latter and the lower extremity of the downwardly extending flange being turned inward against the under side of the bottom closure to hold the annular flange of the latter positively against the inwardly extending flange before set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM KUR'LZ BROWNE.

Witnesses Crus. 1 Moon.

II. L. Fnaxc. 

